New Delhi: In a major development for the Tibetan community, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, has announced that the tradition of the Dalai Lama will continue, denying any role for China in the selection of his successor.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Dalai Lama’s office said that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has the sole authority to recognise the future successor and “no one else has any locus standi to interfere in this matter.”
“I confirm that the tradition of the Dalai Lama will continue,” the Dalai Lama said, adding that the decision was taken following requests from various Buddhist organisations across the world.
The 89-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader said he had not held any public discussion on the issue in the last 14 years but had received messages from Tibetans across the world urging him to continue the tradition.
The announcement comes as Buddhist scholars and monks from across the world have gathered in McLeodganj, Himachal Pradesh, for a three-day conference beginning Wednesday.
